Manufacturing Tehcnical Apprentice Review

I am a Manufacturing Technical apprentice and in my current role I work with my team to test some of our products. I also work on my SVQ work and other apprentice projects that I'm involved in. I interact with my supervisor everyday and also speak to the team in my department. I also interact with my apprentice team every day.

Since starting my apprenticeship I have gained my SVQ 2 performing engineering operations. I am currently working on my SVQ level 3 engineering technical support and my HNC engineering systems. I have attended quite a few awareness training sessions that the company has provided which give a good insight into what different areas of the company do. I have gained a lot of skill in testing electronic products and working with the tools and equipment associated. I have learnt a great deal about the company and its products for the time I've been here.

I am finding the program extremely enjoyable so far, it has been very interesting and seems brilliantly organised. The work is very interesting and like nothing I have ever seen before. All the people are very knowledgeable and helpful, they have made me feel like part of the team very quickly. The program has been more than I expected, a lot more enjoyable and a lot more interesting.

The company shows that us apprentices are very important to its future and it makes me feel very valued. All the managers and the apprentice team have been great at guiding me along and are always there to help when needed. Even a lot of the high up directors and senior management want to make time for us and are noticing us which makes me feel very valued and we get a lot of internal recognition. A large amount of people external to the company have asked me about the apprenticeship as well and a few of my friends have also applied for the program.

The program has been very well organised so far. When we first came we were given an induction which gave me a very good idea to how the company works. Then we went off to college full time for 5 months, which was our initial training before coming in to work. I really enjoyed college and I am currently still enjoying it now. Since we have came back into the company it has been great. Everyone has been very welcoming and made it easy to settle in. The apprentice team helped a great amount with explaining and getting us started with our SVQ 3. Also since then they have been there to support the whole way through. The assessor that I have been assigned for my SVQ has been very good. We had a meeting when we first met and he was very easy to approach and is always happy to take questions and help were he can. Overall the program has been well structured so far.

He provides great support when I need it and is always free to ask questions and make suggestions. I have enjoyed my time so far with the qualification and I think my assessor will be very good at guiding me through the rest of the program.

All of the teams around me are very helpful and are there to help out with anything I need. The apprentice team have been a great help. When ever I have any problems there is always a member of the team there to help me with them. The HR team provided good advice on timing and holidays etc.

I am able to easy live off the wage that we are currently getting. The work is very close to me so doesn't cost me much on petrol. The college is a lot further away but still was easy to afford on the wage. I am able to save slightly with this wage but not a lot. It is good that the wage rises each year though.

The company are always giving us opportunities for external events and other events that we can volunteer for. These events and projects are very fun and I have got to know new people quite well, as well as older apprentices. There are quite a lot of charity events as well that are offered out.

Yes

I have already recommended it to a few friends who ended up applying. They seemed to notice that I was really enjoying myself and I told them that I thought it is a very good program and a brilliant company to join.

I would recommend that they put together the best application they can and make sure they show that they are interested in engineering etc. Also I would make sure they have knowledge on the company before going to the interviews. Overall just make sure that they put across they're passion for this type of work.